Flying-machine.



J. W. WILSON.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e, 1910.

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FLYING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e, 1910.

Patented July 23, 1912.

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FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT s, 1910v 1,083,646. Patented July 23, 1912.

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JOHN W. WILSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Application filed September 6, 1910. Serial No. 580,697.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that "I, JOHN \V. VVILsON, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying-machines, andjn some particulars is intended as an improvement upon the flying-machine shown in my application for Letters Patent #557,135 filed April 23rd, 1910. In the ma chine shown in said application, a pair of oppositely extended horizontally arranged planes are shown, adapted for movement fore and aft in opposite ways, about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and also adapted for movement about axes approximately in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine. Said planes may be used alone as supporting-planes or in conjunction with other planes, and may be manipulated to maintain the lateral balance and to steer the machine, also to lift it short distances While in flight. The means therein shown for moving the planes on axes in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine are arranged to move both planes in a down ward direction about their axes simultaneously, and this invention has for one of its objects the provision of improved means for manipulating said planes, whereby they may be moved about axes in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine independently of each other and also simultaneously; and the invention also has for its object improved construction of means employed for thus manipulating the planes whereby they may be moved by power.

The invention also has for its object the provision of improved means for attaching the planes to their supporting shafts, whereby they may be adjusted forward and backward and also about a horizontal axis.

The invention also has for its object im proved means for turning the supporting shafts for the planes, which are arranged oblique to the perpendicular, to move the planes about axes oblique to the pcrpen dicular.

Also in the machine shown in said applicatlon, a horizontally arranged tail-piece is provided which is bendable transversely whereby it may be flexed longitudinal in an upward direction and also in a downward direction and operating means connected thereto for bending or flexing it. A tailpiece having these movements only is of advantage in controlling the machine, but herein the tail-piece is further arranged to move edgewise about an axis oblique to the perpendicular, whereby it is given other functions, being attached to an upright pivotshaft arranged obliquely to the perpendicular. Two tail-pieces may be em ployed, arranged horizontally, side by side, and separate means provided for bending or flexing them transversely, and also separate means provided for moving them independently of each other, and also for moving them simultaneously about axes oblique to the perpendicular. A tailpiece having these movements all of which are permitted in any position it may occupy, may be employed for maintaining lateral balance as well as for steering the machine or assisting in the performance of these operations, and at the same time serve to assist in supporting the machine while in flight.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flying machine en'ibodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tail-piece shown in Fig. 1, and means for moving it. Fig. 3is a detail showing particularly the means embodying this invention for moving the planes. Fig. 4 is a modified form of machine wherein a single tailpiece is employed and the planes are adapted to be operated by foot power. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tailpiece shown in Fig. 4.

lhe main frame is of any suitable eonstrurtion and has a seat 25. As here shown, a pair of oppositely extended planes 27. 28, of any suitable construction, are provided which are separately supported on upright shafts Ill, 32, arranged oblique to the perpendicular, said shafts being inclined rcarwardly from front to rear and being an ranged in and extended through the front part-of the frame structure and supported by suitable bearings whereby they are free to rotate. As here shown, said shafts extend through the tubular upright bars 29, 30, of the frame, and are supported at their upper and lower ends. The planes are dis posed in approximately horizontal planes, being oblique to their supporting shafts.

' provide for movements on axes approximately in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine. As shown in Fig. 1, the heads are pivoted to blocks 20, separately supported on horizontal arms 21, secured to the upper ends of the supporting shafts. said blocks being adjustably secured to said arms so .as to be moved forward and backward thereon, to adjust the planes forward and backward relative to the machine without changing their angles. The pivots 35, 36, connecting the heads with the blocks 20 are arranged approximately in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine.

To move the heads 33, 34, about their axes in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine and thereby move the planes in a downward direction, separate operating means are provided for each plane, where- .by they may be moved downward independently of each other, yet, as here shown, said operating means is so constructed as to admit of said planes being moved downward simultaneously.

61, 62, represent cords which are attached to the planes, which extend downward and around separ te windlasses 64, and each Windlass has a belt pulley 65 over which a belt 66 passes, which also passes over a belt pulley 67 arranged on or connected with the shaft of a motor, see Fig. 1; or over a belt pulley 68 secured to the crank-shaft 69 to which foot pedals are attached, see Fig. 4.

Said belts 66 are normally loose, and hence remain at rest, but when they or either of them are tightened, the corresponding windlasses are revolved and the cords drawn to -move the planes downward.

It will be understood that the planes are held up by pressure of the air beneath them,

so that the cords are normally held taut and in readiness to be drawn by the windlasses, and that force is required to move them downward against the pressure of the air and thus lift the machine a short distance.

To tighten the belts when desired, belttightening devices may be employed, and. as here shown, levers 13, one for each belt are pivoted at 14, and bear belt-engaging rolls 15. Said levers are arranged in front of and beneath the seat, so that they may be connected and operated conveniently by the feet of the operator. Tn Fig. 4, pivoted levers 26 are employed to tighten the belts,

mounted to be turned about a vertical axis and also to be swung about a horizontal axis. Turning the handle-bar about a vertical axis moves the rods 39, 40, lon itudinally in opposite ways and turns the upright shafts in opposite directions to thereby move the planes fore and aft in opposite ways about axes oblique-to the perpendicular, and swinging the handle-bar about a horizontal axis moves both rods longitudinally in the same direction and turns both upright shafts in the same direction to .thereby move the planes'fore and aft in the same ways about axcs'oblique to the perpendicular. Such movement of the planes may be utilized to maintain or assist in maintaining lateral balance, and to steer or assist in steering the machine.

At the rear f the machine, as here shown, two tail-pieces 72, 7 2, are arranged, which are flat and normally occupy a horizontal plane. They are made flexible so that they may be easily bent transversely. They are attached to separate upright shafts 80, which are supported by the frame and disposed oblique to the perpendicular, being inclined rearwardly. Means are provided for bending said tail-pieces transversely, both upward and downward, and means are also provided for turning the oblique shafts on their axes separately or together as may be desired.

For the purpose of bending the tailpieces transversely separat means are employed for each tail-piece whereby they may be either or both bent more or less as required, and, as here shown, cords 73, 74, are attached to the extremities of the tail-pieees which extend over suitable pulleys and which are connected to the opposite ends of rocking bars 75, pivoted at 76 at points intermediate their length. For the purpose of rocking said bars separately operating levers 77 are connected to their pivot shafts, having set-lever attachments for engaging teeth of a sector 78, whereby said'levers may be locked in whatever positions they may be set. Said operating levers are arranged within easy reach of the operator.

For the purpose of turning the oblique shafts 80 they are each provided with a laterally extended ear 81, to which rods 82 are connected, the opposite ends of said rods being connected respectively to the outer ends of pivoted bars 83, arranged back of the operators seat, the inner ends of said bars being adapted to be engaged and moved by the operator leaning backward on the seat, and forcing his body against the bars. Said bars are arranged cross-wise and in line with each other SO that either or both of said bars may be engaged and moved by the operator.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a single tail-piece is shown adapted to be bent transversely and also swung on an axis oblique to the perpendicular, it being made flexible for the purpose of bending it and being attached to an upright rearwardly inclined shaft for the purpose of moving it on an axis oblique to the perpendicular.

The tail-pieces normally occupy a horizontal plane but may be swung on their oblique axes separately or together, and also may be bent upward and downward, all of said movements being permitted in all the positions they may occupy.

.The tail-piece or tail-pieces may be employed to control the machine in flight as, for instance, they may maintain or assist in maintaining lateral balance and may steer or assist in steering the machine in an upward or downward direction or around corners.

I claim:

1. In a flying-machine, a flat horizontal flexible tail-piece, an upright support therefor, movable about an axis oblique to the perpendicular, and means for flexing said tail-piece transversely, substantially as described.

2. In a flying-.machine, a flat horizontal flexible tail-piece, an upright support there for movable about an axis oblique to the perpendicular and means for flexing said tail-piece transversely in an upward direction, and means for flexing said tail-piece transversely in a downward direction, substantially as described.

3. In a flying-machine, a flat horizontally arranged tail-piece, an upright pivot-shaft at its forward end to which it is attached, arranged oblique to the perpendicular, whereby the tail-piece is movable edgewise about an axis oblique to the perpendicular, substantially as described.

4. In a flying-machine, a flat horizontal flexible tail-piece, an upright. pivot-shaft at its forward end to which it is attached, arranged oblique to the perpendicular, whereby the tail-piece is movable edgcwisc about an axis oblique to the perpendicular and means for flexing the tail-piece transversely, substantially as described.

5. In a flying-machine, a pair of flat hori zontal tail-pieces, arranged side by side, upright pivot-shafts at their forward ends to which they are attached, arranged oblique to the perpendicular, whereby the tail-pieces are movable edgewise about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and means for moving them independently of each other about their axes, substantially as described.

6. In a flying-machine, a pair of flat horizontal tail-pieces arranged side by side, upright pivot-shafts at their forward ends to which they are attached, arranged oblique to the perpendicular, whereby the tail-pieces are movable edgewise about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and! means for moving them simultaneously about their axes, substantially as described.

7. In a flying-machine, a pair of flat horizontal tail-pieces arrangedside by side, up' right pivotshafts at their forward ends to which they are attached, arranged oblique to the perpendicular, whereby the tail-pieces are movable edgewise about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and means for moving them independently of each other and also simultaneously about their axes, substantially as described.

8. In a flying-machine, a pair of flat horizontal bendable tail-pieces, arranged side by side, and pivotal-1y supported at their forward ends, to move edgewise about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and means for moving them independently of each other about their axes, and means for bending them transversely, substantially as described.

'9. In a flying-machine, a pair of flat horizontal bendable tail-pieces arranged side by side and pivotally supported at their forward ends to move edgewise about axes oblique to the perpendicular; and means for moving them simultaneously about their axes and means for bending them transversely, substantially as described.

10. In a flying-machine, a pair of flat horizontal bendable tail-pieces arranged side by side and pivotally supported at their forward ends to move edgewise about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and means for moving them independently of each other and also simultaneously about their axes and means for bending them transversely, substantially as described.

11. In a flying-machine, a pair of oppositely extended planes, 'movable about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and also about axes approximately in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine, means for moving said planes about their oblique axes, and means for moving said planes independcntly of each other in a downward direction about their axes approximately in parallel" with the longitudinal axis of the machine, substantially as described.

12. In a flying-machine, a pair of oppositely extended planes, movable about axes oblique to the perpendicular, and also about aXes approximately in parallel With the lon- In testimony whereof, I have signed my gitudinal axis of the machine, means for nameto this specification, in the presence moving said planes about their oblique axes, of two subscribing Witnesses.

and separate means for moving each plane JOHN W. WILSON. in a downward direction about axes approxi- Witnesses: mately in parallel With the longitudinal axis B. J. NOYES,

of the machine, substantially as described. H. B. DAVIS. 

